The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-06-23
GLOVER AS MANURE
A Semi-Scientifie Dissertation on Ii
tilizing Properties OF the Pm.

tiiizing Properties OF the Plant
Much has been said lately on the1
tilizing properties Of clover
contend that when plowed under Il +
add to the fertility, keep it ii ID
ETC., while others contend that ii J
not add to the fertility and can /
enrich land permanently. Both +
partly right and wrong. Let Is 4
we can not come at the truth Of +
matter.
Green clover Is made up Of vi
starch. woody fiber. sugar, albur
extractive matter, gum, fatty nd
and phosphate of lime. Expressf
elements more familiar, perhaps,
are phosphorie acid, sulphuric !
carbonic acid, silica. lime, magu}
potash, soda, chlorine and iron. d
clover has similar constituents. Ind
they vary in proportion. These Y
Uses are of the tops. The roots sur
in richness.
From whence do these ingredl]
Gomez All plant food comes FROM
and atmosphere, about five per i
from the former and nearly ninetyi
per cent. from the latter. The first
organic, the second inorganic. Cad
as carbonic acid, enters vegelaa
through leaves, bark, etc. Hydp.
comes through water-rains and d
oxygen in rains and nitrogen from
and soil. Plants vary as to anloun
food derived from soil and air.
bacco extracts about ten per cent 4
the soil; rice. clover and many gra'
not over three per cent.
The question then as to clover odd
fertility to the soil resolves itself
this: of what value to land are cart
oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen
fourteen elements we have named
all requisite for the perfect devsl
ment of plants. They must all Y
proper proportions. Let one Be abs
and the plant is impaired IN It's grow
Carbon in its combinations y
great value to soil. Uncombined
valueless. It's compounds ore u
numerous than those Of any other
ment. Combined with oxygen y %
carbonic acid, of prime Importance
plantnutrition. Soil water alwsysn'
it in solution, thus becoming a poWe
solvent, dissolving many suDssa'
which nothing else will, rem
ing them plant food There
twenty-eight tons Of i u
air over one acre of ground, % ss's
says. In the carbonates It =
valuable. 1t forms the chief bulk 9
vegetation. Manures abound N II
thus see its prominent position ana
portance. It is absorbed by pa
through the leaves and bark, q csrO'
acid. 1t is taken up BY the y
Clover feeds upon it, oxygen golnss
as gas, and the carbon forming
combinations with hydrogen NM
gum, starch. albumen, casein' esc
posed to the air these substances
their carbon, it passing of as earn
acid gas. II vegetable Substances
covered with earth the carbon rens
finely divided, becoming yescs
mold. The mineral substances al0
retained in the soil. Carbon y tne
absorbent of g&es, and absofos
condenses watery vapor sounasa
As vegetable mold mixed with e a,,'
makes clay loan, the best Of ABSORB
Water is a manure. Rain brings
It powerful combinations Of nl'l0'
Oxygen is, also, essential to ,ssss
life, and Is the great agent Of de''a'
unites with organic matter ~ w ).
forming new combinations thai e. !
plant food. Without it neither au''
nor plants could live. A large e
the food Of plants floats in the -
is brought down by rains, sl now
Flint says the superiority Of closs y,
green manure lies in the vas1 a,i, tn
water it contains. Clover y = ~ IS
these organic elements IN the -
the soil Cor. Ohio Farmer